Struggles From the Working-class

Have you ever sat down and thought about how screwed up the government really is? The standard minimum wage is under ten dollars, student loan debt is at an all-time high, and the Affordable Health Care Act is a joke. In no way is it okay that we have to struggle as working-class Americans in the so called “land of opportunity”.

Now, I don’t think Democrats are to blame just because we have a democrat as president. With Republicans running around the Senate and House of Representatives like they own the capitol, we as Americans are constantly getting played. They shut down every policy that even gives a glimpse of citizen rights. In fact, I believe the Republicans stand together to put working-class Americans in a position that makes us feel like we are hopeless. I have not met a single person who thinks to talk to their state representative about these issues. Most of us feel like we are left in the dark and have to live life as it comes making us as individuals, scared of fighting back. This threat is unacceptable. In no way should a government have this much control on their people.

We have a Fair Labor Standards Act that allows for minimum wage to be $7.25, not $7.75 or even $9.00, but a mere seven bucks. How can anyone support a family on this salary? The reality is that they can’t. In America, a three person family is short of luck if they make over $20,090 and a single person is only considered poor if they make under $11,770. This is unacceptable. If you make more than these poverty thresholds, all social services become limited. You have to find your own way to pay for your health care, because more than likely your employer does not pay it. If you are lucky enough to be in a union (which many states recently tried to get rid of) maybe, just maybe, you have health care. But if you think about it, these billion dollar corporations are allowed to get away with not providing health insurance, and pawning it off to the unions. In these pay checks where you are making just above the poverty level, often times the system decides if you are poor based on your net pay. Do you realize how ridiculous this is because once you pay for your health insurance, if you are fortunate enough to have it provided, your income is heavily lowered. This wage reduction is heavily seen when you file your taxes.

Why is it so hard for us to step up as citizens to get these standards changed?

If you are paid between $9,225 and $37,450 your taxed 15% of your wage. There is a huge wage gap that is not accounted for. I mean $10,000 is a way different salary than $40,000 but does the government care? Nope. Its hard to afford basic things like food with such a low income when you also have to pay rent, utilities, gas, etc. With the inaccessibility of public transit across the country, we have to have a car to get around. Really? We are surrounded by technology and we can’t create a country-wide high-speed train system? The government designed highways to encourage automobile travel for the purposes of making money on fuel and they are not letting that money-maker go anywhere. In 2009, large car companies like GM and Ford were bailed out of their financial crisis by George W. Bush while the rest of the country was struggling to find jobs during the unemployment crisis. How messed up is that? Why are the wrong things always on the government’s mind?

Why are we helping fund failed businesses instead of helping failed families?

Even now with terrorism creating anti-Muslim sentiment, many Americans feel that immigration and gun control are the most important issues facing the politicians during this 2016 campaign season. We, the people, have been brainwashed to think that these are the issues that need to be addressed. Republicans talk about nothing else during their debates and the media has thrown Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton into a boxing ring to beat each other up when in reality they are on the same side. The behavior of the media and politicians is appalling. I mean, they forced many to believe that the overtly racist and sexist Donald Trump is a worthwhile candidate. Anyone who ignores the fact that he will start the Third World War if he became elected is a fool. Let’s change these conversation by standing together to work towards a better future. More often than not we just let things slide. But enough is enough! There are people who care about these issues and stand up for what is right, but often times they do it as a form of communism and anarchism. Bernie is right, socialist ideas is the way to go. I mean, what citizen doesn’t want free health care? It blows my mind that this is not already a basic human right provided by the American Government. The cost of healthcare is so high that many times we have to decide if it is worth it. No one should have to choose between their health and being able to have heat. The Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) makes livability impossible because they use private corporations to provide people with health care. We need to take it on step further and say that we, the people, deserve more than our government is providing. It’s this simple; basic human rights need to be addressed in America.

In my next post I will discuss the need to fight back against the high-costs of higher education in the U.S. and how student loan debt has and will continue to cripple our economy.